Golf-green cup



Aug. 4, 1.925.

' 1,548,289 R. D. SPARKS GOLF GREEN CUP Filed' 00L 30. i922 2Sheets-Sheet' l1" a@ j '@Wgw@ Aug'. 4, 1925. 1,548,289

- R. D. SPARKS GOLF GREEN CUP Filed Oct. 30, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Aug. l, i925.

isaazsa .Fi-CE.

ROBERT DON SPARKS, 0F CI-IIGKASHA, OKLAHOMA.

GOLF-GREEN CUE'.

Application filed October 30, 1922. Serial No. 597,995..

The main objects of the invention are to' facilitate the removal ofsand, which may drift into and accumulate in the cup, particularly inwindy weather; to improve the construction of the flag-staff so ,as tosecure accurate engagement with and convenient removal from the cup; andto secure rigid 'mounting of the cup inthe soil, so that it may neithersettle nor work loose under the thrashing of the flag-statt' in heavywinds. f

To secure these and other incidental desirable results, I have combinedthe following features. I make the cup somewhat deeper than usual andfix to itone or more external horizontally extending lflanges or plates.rIhese flanges or plates give sufficient bearing surface in the soil toprevent settling or working of the cup in the soil. Within the main cup,above described, I insert a removable auxiliary cup which lits closelywithin the main cup, and which may be retained or latched in the mainlcup so as ordinarily to be fixed in place through capable of quickremoval for `the purpose of emptying sand. The latching mechanism ismounted in a central housing projecting upward from the bottom of theinner cup, making the latch mechanism accessible for manipulation-andavoiding openings the bottom of the auxiliary cup through which sandmight work.

The flag-staff is carried by ya circular I base which iits closelywithin the auxiliary cup and has projecting fingers which ei:- tend tothe bottom of ythe auxiliary cup around the. Acentral latch housing.Since these fingers are in contact for a consider- ,able distance withthe sides of the cup, this secures astad base -which though closelyconfined by the cup when ,in placemay yet be freely withdrawn. The partsare so .proportioned that the topof the. flagista base, is sutlicientlybelow the rim ofthe cup to .allow balls tobe holed while the 'statt is.in place.

The extra depth of the main cup serves several useful purposes besideincreasing the stability of the main cup. It offers space for the latchhousing, and greater capacity for the harmless accumulation of sand, andmakes it possible to ensure accurate and rigid alinenientof theflagstaff base. j

A structure conformingl to the above description has proved peculiarlysatisfactory in actual use and is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of thecomplete device, the ground level being indicated in broken lines.

lJig. 2 is a side elevation showing the cup with a. cap applied :andcovered with clay or soil, an arrangement adopted when the i hole is notin use.

Fig. 3 is an enlargedfragmentary plan view of the latch. i

Fig. t is a perspective view .of the flagstaff base.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the removable cup, a portion being shownbroken away to disclose the arrangement ofthe latch housing.

The body of the cup consists .of a cylin drical shell 11 flanged at itsbottom and connected by rivets 12 passing through such flange to a baseplate 13 of substantial area. At about mid-height ofthe shell 11 is a{iange or plate 111- riveted at 15 to shell 11 and' having at itsperiphery a 'downward and outward flaring skirt 16. rIlhe plate 14T andskirt 16 are preferably of circular contour and serve together withplate 13 to prevent settling of the cup structure and to give it lateralstability. In some cases it isY desirable that the base plate 13 and thestabilizing plate 141 be removable from the shell 11, and in such casesI may substitute for the rivets 12 and 15, above referred to, smallbolts or machine screws, as iS Obvious. These separable connections aresometimes of convenience in mounting the cup in the green. modes ofconnecting the parts together are obivously possible. v

Fitting closely, but freely within shell 11 is an 'auxiliary cup 17preferably of light sheet metal, and terminating at or slightly .belowthe upper rim of the shell 11.V EX- cept for a small central aperture 1Sthe `cup 17 is closed at its bottom, and .surroundlng the opening 18 andriveted or otherwise connested to cup 17 is an .upstanding conical shellor housing 19 having at its top an opening 20 axially alined withopening 18. Consequently there is at the bottom of the c up 17 arelatively deep pocket surrounding housing 19 and offering a place forthe accumulation of sand without the possibility of any leakagetherefrom.

Longitudinally slidable in the openings 18 and 20 is the latch rod 21having the finger piece 22 (shown as a loop) above the top of housing 19and the spring seat 23 within the housing 19. Surrounding rod 21 andbelow spring seat 23 is a coil spring 24` which seats at its upper endagainst the lower side of seat 23 and at its lower end against a washer25 surrounding rod 21 and restingon the bottom of cup 17. The rod 21carries at its lower end a cross-arm 25, which when properly positionedmayV pass through a slot 26 in plate 13.

To latch the cup 17 in shell 11 the cup is introduced into the shell.and the rody 21 is turned by finger piece 22 until cross-arm 25 entersslot 26. Finger piece 22 is then pushed downward compressing spring 24and causing cross-arm 25 to pass through slot 26 until it is whollybelow plate 13. Rod 21 is then yrotated in either direction about a.quarter turn and released. The parts are so proportioned that the spring24 will now act to hold the cup 17 tightly against plate 13. It isdesirable. but not essential, so to proportion the parts that in thehighest position of rod 21, cross-arm 25 projects far enough below thebottom of cup 17 to-engage the top face of plate 13, as this facilitatesalining cross-arm 25 with slot 26 by feel.

The base for the flag-staff consists of a circular casting 30 having anupward extending peripheral ange 31 and several downward projectingfingers 132 curved inward at their lower ends as shown at 33. A tube 34screwed into the central boss 35 offers means to receive the woodenstaff 36 held by a rivet or pin 37.

The flange 31 and fingers 32 serve to hold the base, and hence thestaff, upright and the inward curvature of the fingers at 33 guides theentering movement of the base.V The flag-staff base when in placestraddles the housing 19, and yet because of the depth of sleeve 11 andcup 17 leaves space above it to receive balls which maybe holed whilethe base is in the cup. l

The base 30. because of its circular flange,

will catch such small quantities of sand asV drift into the cup underordinary conditions betweenV successive matches. Hence, by dumping thebase each time the flag iswithdrawn, `the frequency withV which theauxcan be greatly reduced. Y Y What is claimed is :f I p c 1. A cup forgolf greens,comprisingin iliary cup must kbe withdrawn and emptiedcombination a cup-like shell; and a horizontally extending plate rigidlyconnected with said shell extending a substantial distance from theperiphery thereof and so located as to be embedded in the earth whensaid cup is in position in a green.

2. A cup forgolf greens, comprising in combination a cup-like shell; anda plurality of outward extending stabilizing members rigidly connectedwith said shell extending a substantial distance from the peripherythereof and'sopositioned as to be embedded inthe earth when said cup isin position in a green. i

3. A cup for golf greens, comprisingin combination a cup-like shell; anda plurality of horizontally extending flanges rigidly connected withsaid shell and` so positioned as to be embedded in the earth when saidcup is in position in a green, one of said plates extending a.substantial distance from the periphery of said shell and having aflange-like skirt. Y y y .4. A cup for golf greens, comprising incombination a main cup; an auxiliary cup closely fitting within saidmain cup and removable therefrom; a releasable latch'oper able toconnect said auxiliary cup with said main cup; and a resilient memberassociated with said latch and arranged to permit limited relativemovement of said cups while said latch is engaged. y

5. A cup for golf greens, comprising in combination a main cup;anauxiliary cup closely fitting within said main cup and removablektherefrom a housing mounted` on the bottom of auxiliary cup andextending fupward wit-hin the same; and a locking mechanism mounted insaid housing, accessible for manipulation at the upper end thereof andoperable to engage a portion ofV said main cup and thereby lock saidauxiliary cup in place. y

6. A cup for lgolf greens. comprising in combination a main cup; anauxiliary cup closely fitting within said main cup and removabletherefrom; a housing mounted on the bottom of auxiliary cup andextending upward within the same; a locking mechanism mounted in saidhousing, accessible for manipulation at the upper end thereof andoperable to engage a portion of said main cup and thereby lock saidauxiliarycup y therefrom; a housing mounted onthewbottom of saidauxiliary cup andextending upward within the same; a lockingmechanismmounted in said housing, accessible for manipulation at the upper endthereof and operable to engage a portion of said main Shell and therebyretain said auxiliary cup in place; and a flag-staff base closely butremovably fitting Within said auxiliary cup and having a portion whichsurrounds said housing.

8. The combination with a sand green of 10 a main cup set with its rimbelow the level of the green; an auxiliary cup removably mounted in themain cup; and a cover closing the top of said main cup and buriedbeneath the surface ot' the green, he parts being so arranged that suchcup is complete but out of play, Without intertering with play on thegreen.

In testimony wher-eo;F I have signed my name to this specification.

ROBERT DON SPARKS.

